Buckle up, because this is possibly one of the longest hotel wraps we’ve ever done. And if you read it slowly enough, you might be able to procrastinate until the weekend!

The gloves are off for Mantra Hotels’ Boxing Day sale – starts December 26

Snap up a huge discount on your next holiday with Mantra Hotels’ Boxing Day Sale (on sale 26 to 31 December), offering unbeatable savings on a wide range of Peppers, Art Series, Mantra and BreakFree getaways.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the deals on offer during the sale, featuring a selection of coastal and city hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand, Bali and Hawaii.

To book any of the below Boxing Day Sale deals or to check out Mantra Hotels’ full range of Boxing Day specials, visit www.mantrahotels.com or call our 24-hour reservations centre on 1300 987 603.

Don’t delay – the deals are on sale for six days or until sold out!

Embassy Suites by Hilton Resort opens in St. Augustine Beach

Embassy Suites by Hilton, a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton and Key International – a prominent real estate investment and development firm, announced today the opening of a new resort located in St. Augustine Beach. Embassy Suites by Hilton prides itself on offering guests an approachable and stress-free experience at each of its hotel properties.

The sleek and relaxing Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort is located on the velvet sand oceanfront of St. Augustine Beach, and near the most popular restaurants and shops. The resort is also ideally located near several kid-friendly attractions, including Anastasia State Park, the iconic St. Johns County Ocean Pier, Castillo de San Marcos, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Owned and developed by Key International and managed by Hospitality Ventures Management Group, this upscale resort is a 175 all-suite property consisting of spacious two-room suites and studio suites with panoramic views of the resort-style pool, beach and ocean. The resort even offers designated family suites with bunk beds.

The property is also a perfect fit for meetings and large social gatherings like weddings, with more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 5,200-square-foot, oceanfront ballroom with outdoor terraces.

Introducing gourmet Sunday brunch at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali launches a tantalizing new menu for its Gourmet Sunday Brunch by the Beach, served at the award-winning The Beach Grill Restaurant.

The exciting new concept, ‘Cook Fresh, Eat Fresh,’ highlights the island’s freshest ingredients which are prepared at live cooking stations, alongside a generous buffet, a la carte menu and tantalizing chef pass arounds. 

Highlights on the Mediterranean-inspired menu include baked gindara with cherry tomato, olive oil and dill, and a carving station featuring Angus OP Ribs served with assorted condiments and mustards. The risotto live cooking station offers a choice of fresh vegetables and condiments including chopped herbs, roasted pine nuts and truffle oil, as well as fresh shavings from a whole parmesan wheel.

The pasta station sees homemade sundried pappardelle, and spinach and cheese ravioli with a choice of delicious sauces and condiments. Mediterranean and Indonesian flavours are also well represented on the buffet which includes hot and cold tapas and appetizers such as pomelo salad with king crab and prawns, tuna salad with coconut, and Bali’s famous sate lilit served with spicy sambal matah and lime. 

Crystalbrook Collection confirms five-star hotel for Newcastle

Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts has won the tender to acquire Newcastle’s iconic ‘Roundhouse’ Council Administrative Centre and intends to convert the building into a luxury five-star hotel, ready to open in late 2020.

The hotel is to be called Kingsley, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel. The name follows a Crystalbrook Collection naming convention where each of their hotels is given a gender-neutral name and its own unique personality. The name Kingsley is a nod to Newcastle’s heritage and the city’s earlier name Kingstown dating back to 1804.

This will be the first five-star hotel for the city of Newcastle. Crystalbrook Collection CEO Mark Davie said he was thrilled with the result of the tender: “There’s really nothing like this building, it has a strong identity and connection to the city of Newcastle. I see a lot of potential.

Initial studies indicated the ‘Roundhouse’ could accommodate at least 100 five-star hotel rooms. Initial renders developed by Newcastle’s Barney Collins of EJE Architecture also show the introduction of a rooftop restaurant and recreational area complete with a swimming pool.

Giant Gingerbread pop up store at Hyatt Regency Sydney

It’s sugar, spice and all things nice this month at Hyatt Regency Sydney with a giant gingerbread pop-up shop, open until December 25, 2018. Upping the ante on festive spirit this year, Pastry Chef Prashant Anand led the team to create a three-metre high gingerbread house that entices guests with the scent of warm spices and Christmas cheer.

Taking five days to assemble, the life-size house consists of 200kg of honey, 60 litres of milk, 1000 eggs, 1000kg of icing sugar and of course lots of delicious candy.

The fun doesn’t stop there, the house is also filled with delicious treats perfect for those in need of a quick gift. From traditional fruit cake, chocolate Santa’s and cinnamon star cookies to coffee, wine and plenty of champagne there is something for everyone this Christmas at Hyatt Regency Sydney.

For those wanting to take a bite of the gingerbread house. You can certainly do that too, just follow the signs to find the wall where you can pick off a piece of candy. Note to self, take a piece and you may want to come back for more.

IHG to add its vibrant voco™ brand to Kirkton Park Hunter Valley in early 2019

IHG will give it’s stunning Kirkton Park property in the NSW wine region a refresh and rebrand it as voco™ Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, making it the fourth signing in Australia since IHG launched the upscale voco™ brand globally in June.

With 70 voguishly appointed rooms, the property was one of the first Hunter Valley Hotels established in the prestigious wine region. In June 2017 IHG took over management of the hotel under the banner of Kirkton Park Hunter Valley and has since built a reputation for being one of the wine region’s most desirable destinations.

As part of the rebrand, voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley will make several aesthetic upgrades with the distinctive and luxurious voco™ brand hallmarks: ‘Come on in’, ‘Me time’, and ‘voco life’. The boutique hotel will once again join forces with luxury interior designer, Greg Natale, to bring the interior design concept to life in a new and inventive way that celebrates its location and surroundings.

Located in the heart of Pokolbin and just minutes away from the region’s most popular wineries, the Australian colonial heritage property is complemented by 70 acres of rural surroundings including manicured gardens, a wholesome vegetable garden and picturesque walking trails.

Exclusive Banyan Tree Residences debut at Laguna Lang Co

Ambitious plans to position Laguna Lang Co as one of Asia’s most far-reaching integrated resorts are ratcheting up with the official launch of the property’s exclusive Banyan Tree Residences.

Unfolding over 280 hectares of prime oceanfront real estate in central Vietnam, the project is already renowned for its two award-winning resorts Banyan Tree and Angsana Lang Co as well as its championship golf course, designed by UK legend Sir Nick Faldo. The project is currently entering a exciting new phase that is likely to earn even more kudos.

Expansion over the next few years will see Laguna incorporate an international-scale casino, additional high-quality hotels and real estate components ranging from townhouses to the sumptuous Banyan Tree Residences, which were unveiled at an event in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of November.

The exquisite residences are destined to be a key driver for investment. Laid out on a jungle-clad mountainside at the northern end of the property, there are 40 residences in total.

25 per cent special offer at Stylish, The Library in Koh Samui

The Library in Koh Samui, Thailand is offering a 25 per cent discount on its Best Available Rates (BAR) and 15 per cent travel agent commission for bookings received by 31 January 2019 for guest stays of a minimum three consecutive nights at this stunning property until 15 July 2019.

This special offer is available for accommodation in a Smart Studio, Exotic Suite and Secret Pool Villa per room per night for two people.

Guests staying five consecutive nights will also enjoy a complimentary three-course dinner (food only) at The Page, fronting the shores of stunning Chaweng Beach and offering a delightful menu of Thai and international fusions.

Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort adds nightclub and more for guests

Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort has added a nightclub, an adult bar, a teens club, cooking classes and cocktail making to its guest attractions.

The popular 181-key resort on the idyllic southern tip of Mauritius has opened the Onyx nightclub. The outlet is aimed at groups staying at the resort, especially those who use the purpose-built Crystal marquee for events. Guests can now continue the party after hours at the Onyx that features space for 200 guests, dance floor, DJ console, bar sitting area and an area for catering.

The resort has also unveiled The Garden Pool adults-only bar in the resort’s quiet pool zone. The intimate outdoor bar with ocean view is open all day. It is a popular venue for both pre-dinner sundowners and after-meal drinks. Teenagers now have their own all-day Teens Club with music, Wi-Fi, pool and soccer tables, air hockey and lounge chairs for chilling out.

As part of the changes, Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort has also launched two cooking classes: modern Mauritian Creole and Indian, led by chefs Jerome and Sadien. Guests choose local ingredients, some from the chef’s garden at the resort. Moving to the kitchen, they then learn modern cooking techniques under supervision from the five-star chefs.

Southern Ocean Lodge plates up new-look KI Food Safari in 2019

The popular KI Food Safari held at Southern Ocean Lodge will have a new format in 2019, a short-take on the original, running over a long weekend and celebrating the culinary talent and friendships of three of South Australia’s most lauded chefs.

The three-night KI Food Safari will run over the dates July 12-15, 2019. Southern Ocean Lodge Executive Chef Asher Blackford will team up for the event with Duncan Welgemoed of Adelaide’s Africola and Tom Jack, head chef at Mitolo Wines’ Bocca di Lupo in McLaren Vale.

The trio will each host a degustation dinner or long lunch with matched wines from The Islander Estate, Mitolo Wines and The Lane Vineyard, with the final night a combined gala dinner presented by the three chefs. Each will lead cooking masterclasses and produce tastings, both ‘in the field’ and in the kitchen or in the Great Room at Southern Ocean Lodge.

The KI Food Safari is priced from $4,150 per person twin share including three nights at Southern Ocean Lodge, an itinerary of excursions, produce tastings and masterclasses, all dining and beverages, in-suite bar and island airport transfers.

Park Inn by Radisson to open in Bacolod, the Philippines’ “City of Smiles”

Park Inn® by Radisson, the colourful and contemporary upper midscale brand from Radisson Hotel Group™, has continued to expand its footprint in the Philippines with the signing of a brand-new hotel in Bacolod, the aptly nicknamed “City of Smiles”.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2020, Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod is being developed by SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., an affiliate of SM Prime Holdings Inc, one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers.

The hotel will be connected to the SM City Bacolod lifestyle mall, providing guests with instant access to extensive retail, F&B and entertainment facilities. Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod will also adjoin the vast SMX Convention Center, making it ideal for business travellers and MICE delegates.

This signing marks the latest collaboration between Radisson Hotel Group and SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. in the Philippines, following the successful launch of Park Inn by Radisson properties at SM Cities in Clark, North EDSA, Iloilo City and Davao City.